What to watch for Sunday: Expansion sides face off, Seattle seek revenge vs LAFC

There are two big matches for the Sunday slate in MLS, with the league's two newest clubs facing off for the first time to lead it off and a pair of Western Conference heavyweights rounding out the action. 

Here's what to watch for when the clubs take the pitch: 

Nashville SC vs. Inter Miami CF

8:30 pm ET | MLS LIVE on ESPN+; DAZN in Canada

Miami, meanwhile, will be returning to play for the first time since their first win in MLS, 3-2 over that same Orlando side in their first-ever home match. It was a sorely-needed three points for a team that had lost all its games to that point, but had also arguably been unlucky based on how they played. Another win against Nashville would just be another added psychological boost, and also a valuable haul, as they need to start making up points.

Seattle Sounders vs. LAFC

10 pm ET | FS1 in US; MLS LIVE on DAZN in Canada

When these two teams meet, we're usually talking about it the next day.

The last time the Sounders faced LAFC—it was the first time since eliminating LAFC in the 2019 Western Conference Final—it didn't go well for them: The Rave Green were unceremoniously bounced by a 4-1 scoreline in the Round of 16 at the MLS is Back Tournament by their Western Conference foes.

But in their first match back in league play, Seattle rebounded in a big way, routing their Cascadia rival Portland Timbers 3-0 at Providence Park after exploding for all three goals late in the second half. They looked much more like the Sounders we all know in that last half-hour, so another win against LAFC would go a long way in continuing that momentum.

LAFC need a bounceback in a bad way after the bitter taste of their 2-0 El Trafico defeat to the LA Galaxy. So look for them to come out firing. They won't have Carlos Vela, who is out with an MCL injury, or Eduard Atuesta, who is nursing an injured foot. But they're still loaded with talent, and showed in the MLS is Back Tournament that they're plenty capable of scoring in bunches even without Vela.

All of that should make for a lively match.